Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-01
A MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE.
Raymond Belmont, Son OF the Well-KnowI
Banker, shoots Himself

Raymond Belmont, Son Of the Well-knOWn
Banker, shoots Himself.
New YORK, January 3l.-WOrd reached
police headquarters at 3 o'clock this morn
ing that Raymond Belmont, son Of August
Belmont, the well-knOwn banker, had
shot himself. 1t was impossible to learn
at that hour whether or not the young
mans injuries were likely to prove fatal,
but the police Immediately sent for a coro-
ner to 90 to the house, when the following
facts were learned: Young Belmont lived
with his father at No. 100 Fifth avenue,
and was associated with the Belmont
banking house 1T No. II Pine street.
In the evening Raymond went ont
dinner He returned shortly before
one o'clock this morning. With
him was Leonard Behr, night watch
man, with whom young Raymond was
well acquainted, and who frequently ac-
companied him home. They went down
to the basement, where there was u
shooting gallery, in which young Belmont,
who was q very expert shot, frequently
practiced. Here he also had revOlvers
and guns. As they entered the room
young Belmont picked up dOuble-acting
Smith & Weston pearl handled revolver of
calibre, and turning to Bchr, said:
Now, want you to 80 and hold up n
gold collar button in your hand, and
will shoot it out"
Behr, who had frequently seen the
young man shoot, and had great confidence
in him, at once agreed to do this. Before
taking up his position, however, young
Belmont turned to him and said:
''Oh; first close all the doors, so that the
report may not alarm father, who is up
stairs"
Thereupou Bebr walked over to n door,
and had Just put his hand upon it when he
heard the report of the pistol Turning at
once, he saw young Belmont falling 10 the
floor, blood gushing from wound in the
right side of his head. My God, Ray
mond, " he cried, what have you dOue?"
He leaned over the young mau, who open
ed his eyes, and, looking at him, tried 10
speak but could not. As Behr looked at
him he closed his eyes and was uncOn-
sciOuS.
Behr then Aroused August Belmont, the
Young mans father, who was alone in the
house The watchman was sent for DR..
Polk, the family physician, and in "a few
moments he was at the young mans bed
side with two other physicians. They
tried to recusitate Raymond, hut failed.
He died soon after, as the bullet had enter
ed his brain Coroner Elder and his deputy
arrived before the doctors lett. They
found that the bullet had passed clear
4 ..l-,,11 tha einhf St1a
of the head and coming out at the left.
The watchman said the shooting was ac-
cidental, but the Coroner said all the in
dtcatiOns pointed to suicide. 1t was evi-
dent that young Belmont had taken con-
siderable wine with his dinner
Sergeant Schmittberger, of the Nine
teenth precinct, went to the house with a
policeman. At first they intended to put
tine frightened watchman under arrest,
but they finally concluded to let him alone.
Mrs. Belmont is In Washington with Con-
gresham Perry Belmont She was notified
by telegraph this morning.
Coroner Eidman said to-day that he had
no doubt that the shooting OF Raymond
Belmont was due to the accidental dis
charge of the revolver. He was called to
the case early this morning, but AZ it
rightfully belonged TO his associate, COro-
ner Nugent, he transferred the case to him.
He however, made some inquiries, and ac-
uuainted himself with facts sufficient,
taken in connection with the other circum-
STANCES, to feel assured that the case was
not one Of suicide.
The Coroner will leave the question rs
to whether the death was accidental or
suicidal to jury. Personally he is con-
vinced the shooting was accidental.